Tag: wii
Top Japanese industry games figure says next gen Wii will be HD and feature new motion controller
The next-generation, high definition Wii will offer the same capabilities as the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, while adding a brand new motion controller. We'll apparently get out mitts on it in 2011.
Nintendo continues to dominate console market
Data released from Gfk Charttrack has revealed that Nintendo is still well ahead of its competitors in terms of sales of the current generation consoles. In fact, the DS on its own has sold almost as many units as the Xbox 360, PS3 and PSP put together.
It’s not all bad news for Nintendo’s rivals however. In 2009 the Xbox 360 is the biggest selling console – selling 700,000 units. The DS and Wii have both sold more in the last 12-month period though – 2.7million and 2.3million respectively compared to 1.7million for the Xbox 360.
The total sales are as follows:
Nintendo DS: 9.1million
Nintendo Wii: 5.4million
Microsoft Xbox 360: 3.9million
Sony PlayStation Portable: 3.3million
Sony PlayStation 3: 2.2million
The figures will be of concern for Sony. They’ll be hoping that the upcoming PSP Go and the rumoured PS3 slim consoles will help them get back on track in a market that, only a few years ago, they dominated.
(via Gamezine)
Ashes Cricket 2009 – coming in August
Cricket games are never all that great, let’s be honest. Graham Gooch World Class Cricket on the Amiga was okay but the batsmen would run without prompting causing numerous, unnecessary, run-outs and many a smashed joystick.
But if there was ever a games console designed for a cricket simulator then surely it’s the Wii? Ashes Cricket 2009 by Codemasters will put that theory to the test when it is released next month.
The gameplay has the potential to be excellent. Codemasters is promising various shot types when batting including drives, cuts and slogs – hopefully you’ll also be able to reverse-sweep for six, KP stylee. When fielding, players will be able to polish the ball to affect its movement and bowlers will have to turn the remote during their action in order to swing the ball.
The features of the game sound pretty impressive too – the top eight test playing nations will be there along with real kits and real names. So no Harry Flentoff or Rocky Punting. All formats of the game will be present including tests and 20/20 and they’ll be played in 10 real stadiums with commentary by Jonathan Agnew, Shane Warne, Ian Botham, Ian Bishop and Tony Greig. No Bumble unfortunately.
Pre-order it from Game on the Wii for £29.99. It’s £37.99 on the PS3 and Xbox 360 and £24.99 on the PC – although they don’t sound as much fun as the Wii version.
Wii to target "Halo-audience"
Not content with outselling both the Xbox 360 and the PS3, Nintendo America boss Reggie Fils-Aime has claimed that the Wii can, and will, begin to attract even more users including more hard-core gamers as well as people that don’t currently play video games at all.
The Wii has blossomed in the casual market, which didn’t really even exist before its launch, but Fils-Aime believes that it can also more than hold its own it terms of attractiveness to more regular gamers.
He believes that titles such as The Conduit and Dead Space Extraction will be enough to win over the “Halo-audience” and titles like Wii Fit Plus will be enough to convince non-gamers into becoming Wii owners.
Fils-Aime said: “We’re not going to be satisfied just picking up that existing gamer. We have to reach beyond and get that consumer who doesn’t game. That’s the only way we’ll be able to continue growing as a company and as an industry.”
With the huge success the Wii has enjoyed since its launch, it would be foolish to write-off Fils-Aime’s claims. The Wii has continued to shock and impress the gaming industry and it isn’t really that hard to envisage the console becoming even more popular.
Sony demo hand-held motion controller at E3
Sony has formally joined the battle of the motion controllers after unveiling their, as yet unnamed, hand-held motion controller at E3.
Made up of two handsets the new controller works with the existing PS3’s eye.
The “technology demo” showed the way in which a player becomes part of the in-game experience, appearing on-screen, with the controller replaced by a variety of implements, from a baseball bat, to a weird sort of light-sabre whip thing.
Richard Marks, head of development for Sony’s new motion controller said “The controller can be measured to sub-millimetre accuracy.”
And in three dimensions, so not only does it know how far your controllers are from each other, it knows how far they are from the screen, which will allow for some potentially very immersive 3D gameplay.
Kaz Hirai, Sony Computer Entertainment President, said: “With PlayStation 2, when we launched the EyeToy camera, we had already perfected the art of playing games just using your hands.”
“The motion controller we demoed today, it raises the bar in terms of accuracy in 3D. It’s all about the accuracy and tracking.”
The new controller is being muted for a Spring ’10 launch, though by then Project Natal will be everywhere. Sony have been quite sorely beaten to the punch on this one, and by Microsoft, stuffy old Microsoft – that’s got to hurt.
(Via BBC)
10 accessories Nintendo should add to the Wii
The Nintendo Wii is an insanely popular gaming console, but there’s always room for improvement, right?
Here are ten bits of kit Nintendo could add to he Wii console to make it even more versatile – ranging from the fairly sensible to the downright weird.
What would you add to the Wii?
1. Bluetooth Headset
OK, so this one is pretty sensible, and you’d think would be fairly easy for Nintendo to create and market.
I know there’s the Wii Speak, but perhaps you’d like to have a more private conversation with someone about subjects more personal than Animal Crossing.
2. WiiPhone
A few years ago we didn’t think Apple would venture into the mobile phone market, but it happened.
Nintendo has denied that it will ever get into telephony, but it wouldn’t be hard to hook up a telephone interface to the Wii and use the controller to dial your numbers.
After all, it’s likely that not everyone you want to talk to has a Wii, and it’s just so much effort to pick up the real phone when you’re constantly attached to the Wii.
New Mario and Zelda games to be unveiled at E3?
Are Nintendo going to announce new Mario and Zelda games at E3 next Tuesday? Well that certainly is the rumour.
It all seems to have started after Macquarie Research said: “We expect Nintendo to learn its lessons from last year and provide more gamer-centric announcements at E3 such as a new Zelda or Mario title for the Wii.”
Which certainly doesn’t sound to us like good solid fact-based information – it sound suspiciously like speculation. But well founded and oddly business-like speculation. But that’s the thing about speculation, it’s awfully exciting, sometimes more exciting than when the product actually arrives.
And you can’t deny, it would make sence to release a new Mario and/or Zelda game. It’s been two years since Mario Galaxy made its welcome appearance. Nintendo need to understand – people need more Mario. I need more Mario. We all, need, more, Mario. Come on guys – let’s have a Mario Party! No? Just me? And Mario…Not you Luigi. Nobody needs more Luigi.
(Via Play.tm)
Nintendo wants all Wii owners online
Nintendo has started a massive marketing push to get Wii owners online. Assuming, probably rightly, that most homes with a Wii have a wireless network of some sort, Ninty is engaging in an eight-week “Get it Online” ad campaign.
Currently there’s a huge banner on the Nintendo website which takes you through all the steps necessary to hook up your Wii to your wireless LAN. It’s not too tough, as you might imagine. There’s also some footage of the online features the Wii has, including the shop and the browser.
(via Tech Radar)
Nintendo hikes up the price of the Wii to £20 more
The credit crunch is biting hard, and it seems that it’s chomping on Nintendo particularly hard – the company is being forced to raise the price of its multi-bazillion selling Wii console. Nintendo says:
“Due to the severe and continuing depreciation of the pound, we are, unfortunately, having to raise our trade price to UK retailers of Wii hardware. The price that they then offer to consumers is, of course, up to the retailers.”
Those retailers are invariably feeling the pinch just as hard, so I suspect it’ll go straight through to the price on the ticket. The Wii currently retails for £180, and this change will add £18-£20 onto that figure. Depressing, in more ways than one.
(via Eurogamer)
Nintendo releases 'Pro' Wii controller
Nintendo’s got a new controller for the Wii, in addition to the Wii Remote/Nunchuk combo and the ‘classic’ controller, used to play retro console games. It’s called the “Pro”.
It rejects some of the differences between the classic controller and most other gamepads, adding back in the ‘legs’ and moving the wire back to the top of the device. The shoulder buttons are also made more accessible, and the whole thing’s put on some weight, too.
Unfortunately, there’s “no plans” for a European release, let alone any pricing. I wouldn’t chuck away your classic controllers just yet.
(via Eurogamer)
